Immigration Resources

The Cranwell International Center is maintaining a webpage that serves as a central hub for communicating key updates on policy changes that may affect international students. Our goal is to keep you updated with timely, accurate information.

Contact the Virginia Tech Police Department at 540-231-6411. Virginia Tech Police will coordinate with university officials to respond appropriately to the request.

Members of the Virginia Tech community, including students and alumni, have had their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records terminated, which generally means they must leave the U.S. immediately. We are not aware of any immigration actions affecting Virginia Tech faculty or staff.

The university conducts frequent reviews of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), a U.S. government database managed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). If a visa revocation or other status change occurs, the Cranwell International Center or Global Strategic Services will contact the affected individuals directly by email.

A visa is a travel document issued by a U.S. embassy or consulate that allows an individual to travel to a U.S. port of entry. It does not guarantee entry into the United States. Upon arrival, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer determines whether the individual may enter and for how long. 
 
Status, on the other hand, refers to the specific category and conditions under which someone is allowed to stay in the U.S., as recorded on their I-94 form. For students, this means maintaining a full course load and adhering to the rules of their visa classification. An individual may have an expired visa but still be in valid status if they remain in the U.S. and comply with all immigration rules.

Visa revocation means the U.S. government has canceled a previously issued visa, making it invalid for entry or re-entry into the country. 

Status termination (often through termination of an I-20 or DS-2019 form) refers to the loss of a person's legal standing to remain in the U.S. under a specific visa category. This generally requires the individual to leave the country immediately.

Virginia Tech does not make individual travel decisions for students or employees. However, we recommend that members of our international community reconsider all nonessential international travel. 

Individuals traveling under nonimmigrant visa status (F-1, J-1, H-1B) or as lawful permanent residents (green card holders) should consider:

• Traveling with a clean laptop, tablet, and phone.
• Backing up sensitive or personal information before departure.
• Being prepared for possible secondary inspection at U.S. ports of entry, where customs and immigration officials may review social media and electronic communications.

Faculty and staff can best support affected students by referring them to appropriate resources, maintaining their privacy, and being flexible with academic accommodations when possible. Contact the Cranwell International Center for guidance on specific situations. Faculty should not provide immigration advice but can help students connect with campus resources.